Y7 Chapter 1 Living in Japan – (notes)

Reclaiming land from the sea- The first man-made island is Kyogashima

Today the entire land area of Japan is estimated to be made of reclaimed land of Umetatechi.

The areas of new land are called Polders’

A Polder is an area of low land that was once under the sea that has been separated from it by
dykes.

The New Kansai Airport is built on artificial land in the middle of Osaka Bay.

Japanese archipelago (island chain) consists of four main islands.

Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and Hokkaido – together with thousands of surrounding smaller
islands.

Archipelago – An archipelago is an area that contains a chain or group of islands scattered in

lakes, rivers, or the ocean.

Positive Effects of Urbanisation:

 Creation of employment opportunities
 Technological and infrastructural advancements
 Improved transportation and communication
 Quality educational and medical facilities
 Improved standards of living

Negative effects of Urbanisation:

 Population increases causes housing problems
 Overcrowding
 Development of Slams
 Unemployment
 Water and Sanitation Problems
 Poor Health and Spread of diseases
 Traffic Congestion
 Urban Crime

Population Density – Population density is the number of people living per unit of area, “per
square kilometer” per square mile, and which may include areas of water or glaciers. Commonly
this is calculated for a town, city, district, country, another territory or the entire world.
Megalopolis is a very large, heavily populated city or Urban complex.

Adaption – Adaption is the act of changing something or changing your behaviour to make it
suitable for a new purpose or situation.

Metropolitan Area – A major city together with its suburbs and nearby cities, towns, and
environs over which the major city exercises a commanding economic and social influence.

Condominium - a building or complex of buildings containing a number of individually owned

apartments or houses.

Urban – Cities as well as the surrounding areas.